Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-09-19
THE LETTER.

1t was at Saint Nalery-en-CauN, during
the bathing season, that Nine. Alice
Vivien first met Roger de Beaumont.
Roger was finding the hours quite
tedious at that domestic resort.
He had noticed Nine. Nivien, who was.
by far, the prettiest Of all the fair bath
ers at the place. and h. thought that
courting her would be a very pleasant way
of varying the monotonous life he was
leading
Nine Vivien dwelt in pretty cottage
by the seaside. Her husband, detained
in Paris by his business, could only
manage to come down once week and
remain with her from Saturday 10 Mon
day.
At the age OF Il Alice had been married
to Mr. Vivien, a gentleman b years of
age. whose devotion to her was a blending
of love with fatherly tenderness.
She was an honest. upright woman,
who would have repulsed Roger de Beau
mont had he begun to make love Ia her.
But the young man was too shrewd to
proceed in this way. He understood the
young woman's ingenious heart, and he
cndeavorcd to gain her confidence by slow
degrees.
He was the ideal Of her most secret
thoughts: in months time he had
gained her love, even before she herself
was aware of il.
Roger himself was beginning to take an
interest in the game he was playing. He
even felt growing passion for that ador
able and artless young woman, and one
evening. while with her at the pierhead,
where they had gone to enjoy the breeze,
/ he exclaimed. in a voice full of emotion:
Il love you.''
| She tried to make him hush, to show
that she was offended: but he, whose
ardor and boldness seemed heightened by
the charm and poetry OF the delightful
evening, continued, in a passionate tone:
Il have loved you since the first day
saw you, And you love me, too! know
it, feel it! Only let me worship you.
Don't avoid me. don't repnlse me"'
Hush, for Heavens sake, hush!''
"Oh. do not answer me in that way;
me. who adore you: let ME hope that you
will say that you love meH'
As he looked at her she seemed ready to
faint: shining tcardrops We're welling in
her eyes, and her little hand quivered like
a captive bird.
Let me GO" said she in a voice
scarcely audible.
He escorted her to her gate, and, bow
ing low, he said: II shall expect an
answer; 1t will be Il sentence Of death or q
command TO live"
An avowal would perhaps have escaped
| from Alice's lips had not the noise of
| footsteps and the sound Of voices fallen on
! her ear.
Dreading to be seen, and already as
timorous rs guilty person, the young
woman withdrew and hastily entered the
/ house.
Il love him, too, l love him. muir
INJURED she, and remembering how
anxiously the young man had wished for
an avowal of her love, feeling her heart
overflowing, she hastily wrote with fe
verish hand:
Roger, love you, and shall impatient
| ly wait for tomorrow. ALIE"
She smiled while thinking Of the glad
ness that would fill Rogers heart when
/ he read her letter. and. notwithstanding
the lateness of the hour. she hastened out
to drop it in the letter box.
She had barely returned to the house
when vague feeling of dread began to
oppress her. The Intoxicating charm that
had possessed her was dssipated. and, to
her mind, came the picture Of her husband,
so confiding and loving.
hC hVAt tds tLC siiC
awoke, she had but one thought, to get
back her letter.
About O'Clock in the afternoon she
went 10 the casino, where she was sure TO
find Roger, who, as soon as he saw her
advanced with outstretched hands, his
eyes beaming with triumphal joy.
Sir" said she, yesterday had mo-
ment Of folly; forget it, please,-I do not
love you, I swear it!-I have never loved
you, and 1 shall never love you-no,
never!'
Roger, disappointed, looked at her, Q
wicked smile playing about his lips.
"You are an adorable capricious wo-
man, said he, somewhat insolently, to
conceal his vexation.
''Oh, sir, do not be unkind. Please
give me back the letter SO foolishly sent
your'
but I appreciate your letter very
much. 1t is charminS.''
Sir, am faithful wife and love my
husband
The Young man smiled again, and lean
ing toward Alice he looked straight into
her eyes as he said
Il haven't your letter with me. care
fully locked 1; up at home"
Tho young woman stepped back in
stinctively.
BE generous. for heavens sake, Do
what l ask. do not wish to see you
again. Send me back my letter, l be-
scech you. Return 1t to me through the
postoffice."
She begged him with clasped hands,
her face pale with anguish.
''Perhaps!' replied the young man,
deliberately, bowling gracefully as he
started off.
She felt like following him, to tell him
how angry she was, but, some Of her
friends coming up, she WAS Obliged to
stop and talk to them about indifferent
and frivolous matters while her very soul
was tortured by impatience and feelings
of shame.
1t was Thursday, and she thought of
leaving the next day, as soon as she got
her letter back, picturing to herself the
happiness she would feel in rejoining her
husband.
She slept very badly, at times certain
that Roger would return her letter, and,
at others, dreading that he would not do
so, especially when she remembered his
insolent, ironical look.
About 6 in the morning, 5ust as the
fatigue brought on by her emotion was
setting her asleep, she Was awakened with
a start by the sound of hurried footsteps.
Some one raped at the door.
"Alice, il IA l, )" called out Mr.. Vivien's
joyful voice.
She hastened to let him in, exclaiming
with transport: "why, is it you already
was not expecting you for two days yeti"
81 wished TO surprise You. / was able
to finish all my business little ahead Of
time, but l did not dare send you word,
as was afraid that at the last moment
something might have sprung up to detain
me in Paris"
The young woman's heart was over
flowing with happiness in being again
with her husband, who loved her SO ten
derly, while at the same time it was o2-
pressed with feelings Of shame and re-
morse.
All Of sudden she gave start the
clock was striking 8; the postman would
soon arrive with pewspapers and LETTERS